Radio apparatus



April 25, 1933. w. s. SUTTON RADIO APPARATUS Filed April 23, 1930 5Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR HTS- Jullon,

ATTQRNE\Y W. S. SUTTON RADIO APPARATUS April 25, 1933.

Filed April 25, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR W aauuon, BY

WITNESSES ii ATTORNEY A ril 25, 1933. w. s. SUTTON RADIO APPARATUS FiledApril 25. 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR fl lfihsutton,

ATTORNEY Apr 25, 1933. w. s SUTTON 1,906,189

RADIO APPARATUS Filed April 23, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 lllllllllinmllllllllhm April 25, 1933. w, s SUTTON 1,906,189

I RADIO APPARATUS Filed April 23, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR BY Wi6al6on ATTOR N EY Patented Apr. 25, 1933 UNITED STATES WILLIAM S.SUTTON, OF ROCKFORD,'ILLINOIS RADIO APPARATUS Application filed April23,

This invention relates to radio'broadcast receiving apparatus. i

It is among the primary objects of the present invention to provide aradio frequency selector in the form of a condenser having new and novelcharacteristics for radio receivers, whereby the selection of stationsis greatly simplified.

Another object of the invention is to provide a selector that operatesindependently of the sense of hearing so that disturbing noises are nodisadvantage.

A further object of the invention is to provide a selector so arrangedthat the operatr ing leverautomatically locks the device in its tWonormal positions. Therefore, vibration such as that encountered in theoperation of vehicles, will not displace the adjustment.

By use of the present invention in a radio receiving circuit, it will beseen that the circult may be tuned by associating therewith apredetermined fixed or lump capacity corresponding-with the frequency towhich the circuit is to be tuned and that by the use of a fixed capacitythe circuit may be quickly and accurately tuned to provide perfectregistration ofthe. capacity with the frequency with which the circuitis to be tuned, thus avoiding inaccuracies of tuning which result fromthe use of the normal variable plate condensers in which the sense ofhearing is relied upon to secure registration of capacity adjustmentwith the frequency of the station selected.

The above objects and advantages of the present invention are carriedout by the provision of a simple, novel and improved structure, in whichthe combination and interrelation of parts is such that a precise andefficient capacity selector is provided.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a condenser forradio circuits which when adjusted to the desired capacity will not haveincluded in the circuit a greater or smaller capacity than that requiredto provide resonance of the circuit at the selected frequency.

Numerous other objects and features of the present invention will-beapparent from a consideration of the following specification 1930.Serial No. 446,558.

taken in conjunction with the accompanyin drawings, in which lligure 1is a side elevation of one form of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of that form of the deviceshown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the device showing the operating controlWhen mounted through a panel board;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. (5 is a detail so 66 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a detail 77 of Fig. 4.;

Fig.8 is a vertical section taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 4; i

Fig. 9 is an enlarged section taken on the line 99 of Fig. 1.

Referring more particularly to'the drawings, it will be seen that theform of the invention herein shown by way of illustration, is mountedupon a base board 21, which is associated with a panel board 22. Theinvention is, of course, in no way confined to the specific mountingherein shown, which forms no part of the present invention. In thisconnection, as Well as throughout the 33 specification, it will be seen,that only one form of the invention is shown and that changes,modifications, and structural variations of the invention may beresorted to M withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of theinvention.

For supporting the device from the base 21, front and rear journalingsupports 23 ction taken on the line section taken on the line and 24,respectively, are provided. The apertured vjournaling ends of thesupports 23 and r 24 are arranged in axial alinement with a selectordial aperture 25 of the panel board 22. Longitudinally extending bracemembers 26 and 27 are provided between the supr 7 ports 23 and 24.Within the operating apertures of the upper ends of the supports 23 and24, bearing members 28 and 29, res ectively, are provided. The bearingmemEers 28 and 29 are mounted upon a central shaft W 30, the bearings 28and 29 being permanently supported in the bearing apertures of themembers 23 and 24 The forward end of the shaft 30 extends through theaperture of the panel board to mount therein a selector dial 31. A.suitable tapered pin 32 may be used for securing the dial on the shaftfor rotation therewith. The opposite end of shaft 30 is not connected inany way with the nut 3st except through the medium of the balls, clampscrew 33 permanently secures the outer half of ball race 29 against ashoulder at the bottom of the aperture of journal support 24. As theouter half of the ball race is secured to the journal support, while thesmaller half is secured to shaft 30, no longitudinal movement can takeplace while free rotary movement is secured through functioning of theballs between the two races.

Mounted upon the shaft 30, between the bearings 28 and 29, a cylindricaldrum 36 is provided, preferably formed of aluminum. The ends of the drumengage the shaft 30, as indicated, a pin 37 being provided for securingthe drum on the shaft 30 for rotation therewith. The drum 36 includes aplurality of radially extending arcuate parallel flanges 36 extendingfrom the upper portion of its surface. Mounted upon the forward side ofeach of the flanges 36 and resting upon a thickened portion 36 of thedrum 36, semi-circular slotted rotor elements 38 are mounted. Each ofthe elements 38 is secured to its associated flanges by suitable screws,as indicated at 39. The outer edges of the flanges 36 are forwardlyturned, as at 36, to provide an engaging shoulder for maintaining properposition of the plates 38 upon the flanges 36. The forward faces of theplates 38 are slotted as at 38", to provide for the reception in theslots of primary plates, as will be hereinafter described.

The primary plates are secured to a longitudinally movable base orplaten 40, which is semi-circular in cross section, as shown in Figs. 3and 5. Throughout the body of the base 40, reinforcing beads 40, asshown in Fig. 1, may be provided. The base 40 extends longitudinallyunder the drum 36, its edges including extensions 40 having horizontalflanges dO The horizontal portions 40 extend over offset portions 26'and 27' formed on extending portions at the top edges of the braces 26and 27, respectively. The flanges 40* are recessed on their undersurfaces to receive an upper ball receiver 41, within which a ballbearing 42, as shown in Fig. 6, is provided. The lower portion of theball 42 is received within a companion receiver ll carried on a channelformed in the upper face of the portions 26 and 27. F or retaining theball within the recesses, a centrally apertured gear 43 is provided, theball being received through the aperture thereof and forming an axistherefor. The

gear 43 has peripheral teeth, which engage a rack 4% carried by the base40, while the opposite side of the gear engages a rack 44 carried by theport-ion 27. The arrangement is such that by longitudinal movement ofthe base a0, the gear will be revolved and will retain the ball in itspower relative position to provide an anti-friction roller therefor.

The inner concave surface of the base 40 is provided with shoulders 40",between which the lower portions of annular rings l5 are mounted. In theform of the present invention here shown, four such rings are utilized,which are adapted to extend from their support in the base 40 upwardlyaround the shaft 30 and the drum 36. The rings 45 are formed of suitableinsulating material, such as bakelite. their lower portions beingsecured between the shoulders 40" by screws or the like, as indicated at46. The upper portions of the rings -15 which encircle the elements 38outwardly thereof, are slotted as shown in Figure 2 at 45, the slots 45being adapted to register with the slots of rotor 38" of the elements38. Mounted within the slots 45, a series of metal plates 47,constituting the primary plates of the apparatus are provided. Theplates 47 may be of various sizes and shapes as required. The plates 47have upper bifurcated portions and inwardly extending surfaces whichco-operate with the rotor slots to form capacitive relation therewith. Alongitudinal movement of base 40 locates the inwardly projecting portionof the primary plates 47 in two longitudinal positions with reference tothe rotor slots, the on position in which the total area. of a selectednumber of plates is wholly engaged within a like number of rotor slots,and the off position in which all the plates are wholly disengaged fromthe rotor slots, the number of plates selected being controlled byrotation of shaft 30 in response to manipulation of dial 31. It is to beunderstood that the total effective area of the number of platesselected determines the capatance for that location of the dial.

The plates 47 are electrically connected by a conductor ring 48 which isreceived within the central recess d7 forming the configuration of theupper ends of the plates. Simila rly shaped retaining rings 49 arepositioned against the outer faces of the plates and may be soldered orotherwise secured thereto after the plates have been individuallycalibrated by radial adjustment in the slots 45. The rings 48 areelectrically connected in suitable manner to a desired portion of thereceiving circuit. By this arrangement, it will be seen that a. singlecapacity, the Value of which is determined by the number of primaryplates engaged in the rotor slots, is available for insertion in theradio circuit, thus avoiding the difiiculty involved in the use of amultiplate condenser in which an infinity of capacity relations resultsthrough the turning of the plates thereof.

For rotating the drum 36, the dial 31 is provided, which is adapted formanipulation by a forwardly extended flange 50, which may be readilygrasped by the fingers of'the operator. The edge of the dial 31 isprovided with a pair of co-operating annularly arranged semi-circularmembers 51, 51. The member 51 is provided with-a scale having agraduation for each primary plate, hence it follows that the graduationscorrespend with the nulnber of rotor slots, as well as the slots in theindex plate 72. With a graduation of the scale registering with theindex-slot 54, the rotor slots will be aligned central to the primaryplates, and the corres onding slot of the index plate will be a ignedcentral to the pawl, with the dial in this position, the number ofgraduations be:

tween the index slot and 0, indicates the number of plates in alignmentwith a like number of rotor slots. The figures appearing on the dial arearbitrary and may be expressed in wave length or other characteristics.

As illustrated in Fig. 7 ,the extremities of the lower portion 51 areoffset as at 51", to

overlap the adjacent ends of the upper porbers 51 and 51 by a securingband 53 intion, on which is supported a transparent plate '54 overlyingthe scale of the dial. The plate 54 is apertured at 54 to provide forthe display therethrough of the indicia of the graduated scale. Thecasting 55 is mounted upon the forward end of the brace member 27 andextends through a co-operating aperture of the panel 22.

For longitudinally moving the base 40, the brace member 27 is providedwith a depending lug 59, to which is pivoted a link 58, the upper end 58of which is connected to the forward end of a link 57, the rear end ofthe link 57 being secured in a bracket 56 mounted upon a rear extensionof the base 40. Associated with the lower end 58 of the link 58, aforwardly extending operating link 60 is provided, the forward end ofwhich is eccentrically mounted on a disk 61 which is journaled upon anaxle 62 carried by the casting 55. Motion is imparted to the disk 61through an operating lever 64, the end of which is flattened to form anindicia bearing surface 64. The end 64 extends through the casting 55for limited movement. The arrangement is such that upon movement of thelever 64, the disk 61 will be partially rotated whereby the link 60 willbe moved forward upon upward movement of the lever 64 and rearward upondownward movement of the lever 64. F or locking the rotor slots againstrotation when the primary plates 47 are enmeshed therein, an aligningand locking disc or index plate 72 is provided and secured to the drum36. The peripheral edge of the'plate 72 is provided with'the same nu1nberofslots 72 and the same angularspacing as the rotor slot-s; locatedon the bracket 56 which is integral with the base 40, is a pawl 71 whichengages the teeth 72 of the plate 72; the relative position of the motorslots with reference to index plate slots in such that with the pawlengaging a slot of the index plate the rotor slots will be central tothe primary plates. Locking the base in normal operating position isautomatically performed by manipulation of the operating lever 64 toimpart longitudinal movement to the base 40; the locking mechanismconsists of a link 73 having a common axle with links 58 and 60; link 73is provided with a cam 73' in tractive relationship with roller 74;pressure of cam 7 3 against roller 74 is applied by tension of spring75, the other end of which is attached to end 24 by stud 76;

through the linkage 58, 58, 58 and 57 tractive effort of spring 75 isimparted tobracket 56. Bracket 56 carries a lug or web 65 into which isscrewed the stop screw 66; a jam nut 68 on the inner end of the stopscrew 66 serves to lock it in position when the shoulder 69 has beenproperly adjusted with reference'to lug 65; the stop screw 66 passesthrough a retaining lug 67 which is integral with'the journal support24. The free end of the stop screw 66 is provided with a pair oflocknuts 68 which impinge the rearward surface of the lug 67 limitingthe forward movement of the base 40; this position is maintained bytension of the spring longitudinal rearward movement is limited by theshoulder 69 of the stop screw 66 impinging the forward surface of thelug 67, the spring 75 cooperating through the cam and linkage tosecurely lock the base 40 and attached parts in thatv ing lever 64 iselevated to its maximum or u on POSltlOIl.

The 'elevating'of this lever 'causes the following sequence of events.

Very slight upward movement of the lever starts longitudinal rearwardmovement of base 40 integral with which is the bracket 56 with pawl 71;due to this movement, the pawl 71 engages a slot of the index plate 7 2,after which engagement, no rotary movement can take place. Furthermovement of the lever 64% slides the pawl "1 through the slot, at thesame time starting engagement of the primary plates 47 in rotor slots38, and causing the cam 78 in traversing the roller 74 to store upenergy in the spring 75. Continued motion of the lever 64 past thecentral point- H causes the cam 73 to traverse the roller 74' on theadjacent angle transmitting the storedup energy of spring 75 throughintervening linkage to pawl b 'acket 56. Further longitudinal movementactuated by the spring 7 5 is continued until the limiting point isreached which is determined by the shoulder 69 of stop screw 66 engagingthe forward surface of lug 67, which completes the operation, lockingthe primary plates in operative relationship to rotor slots 38. In theabove operative position, the electrostatic capacity of the device isthe sum of the capacity of the total number of primary plates 47 engagedwithin the rotor slots 38.

From the foregoing it will readily be seen that the present inventionprovides anovel and improved means for associating a selective definitecapacitance in a radio circuit. It will be seen that the structureprovides ease of operation and also provides means for locking thedevice in adjusted position. It will be understood that the invention isnot specifically confined to the structural details herein presented,but that numerous changes, modification and the full use of equivalentsmay be resorted to without departing from the spirit or scope of theinvention as outlined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is 1. A radio frequency selector comprising a condenserelement having a plurality of slots, a plurality of condenser plates,one or more of which may be engaged in said slots, a selector dialindicating the relative number of plates engaged, an index plate havingslots corresponding to the number of said condenser plates and a pawlengaging the slots of said index plate to insure perfect registration ofthe condenser plates in the slots of the condenser element, each plateand associated parts representing a calibrated frequency.

2. A radio receiving device, including a rotatable drum, groovedconducting members carried by said drum, and longitudinally movableplates adapted for capacitive relation within the grooves of saidconducting plates, said drum being rotatable to move certain of saidgrooves out of alignment with certain of said plates, and means carriedby said drum for preventing contact of said plates with said conductingmembers.

3. A radio receiving device, including a rotatable drum, groovedconducting members carried by said drum, longitudinally movable platesadapted for capacitive relation within the grooves of said conductingmembers, said drum being rotatable to move certain of said grooves outof alignment with certain of said plates, means carried by said drum forpreventing contact of said plates with said conducting members, saidmeans including a toothed disk connected to said drum and a platecoacting with the teeth of said disk for locking said drum in rotatedposition.

4. A device of the character set forth, including a rotatable drum,recessed condenser elements mounted on said drum, longitudinally movableplates adapted to be received within said recesses for capacitiverelation thereto, and means for longitudinally moving said plates, saidmeans being operable to lock said drum against rotation when said platesare received within the recesses of said condenser elements.

5. A device of the character set forth, including a rotatable drum,recessed condenser elements mounted on said drum, longitudinally movableplates adapted to be received within said recesses for capacitiverelation thereto, means for longitudinally moving said plates, saidmeans being operable to lock said drum against rotation when said platesare received within the recesses of said condenser elements, andresilient means for securing said plates in maximum and minimumlongitudinally moved positions.

6. A variable condenser device, including a semi-cylindrical recessedcondenser element, and a plurality of semi-cylindrically arranged platesadapted for selective capacitive relation to said element, said elementbeing rotatable to vary the number of plates having capacitive relationthereto.

7. A variable condenser device, including a semi-cylindrical recessedcondenser element, and a plurality of somi-cylindrically arranged platesadapted for selective capacitive relation to said element, said elementbeing rotatable to vary the number of plates having capacitive relationthereto, said plates being longitudinally movable for entry within therecesses of said element.

8. A variable condenser device, including a semi-cylindrical recessedcondenser element, 7

a plurality of semi-cylindrically arranged plates adapted for selectivecapacitiv'e relation to said element, said element being rotatable tovary the number of plates having capacitive relation thereto, saidplates being longitudinally movable for entry within the recesses ofsaid element, and means operable by longitudinal movement of said platesfor locking said element against rotation.

9. A radio frequency selector, including a panel board, a dial mountedin an opening formed in said panel board, a shaft extending rearwardlyfrom said dial, a condenser element mounted on said shaft, a secondcondenser element mounted for movement into and from co-operativerelation with said first named condenser element, a locking disk mountedon said shaft, said first named condenser element being rotatablyadjustable relative to said second named condenser element by rotationof said dial, means for moving said second named condenser element intoco-operative relation with said first named condenser elementafter theselective setting of the same, and a plate operable with said means andengageable with said locking disk to secure the condenser elements anddial in set position.

10. A radio frequency selector including a rotatable condenser elementhaving a plurality of radially disposed slots, a primary element havinga plurality of primary plates, the rotatable element being adapted torotatably move until the slots therein are in alignment with one ormoreof the primary plates, said rotatable condenser element having thesame number of slots as the primary element has plates, and means forlongitudinally moving said primary element into maximum electrostaticrelationship with said rotatable element.

11. A radio frequency selector comprising a primary element having aplurality of condenser plates a rotor element having a plurality ofslots, said rotor element being positioned for free rotatable movementto a selected position with respect to the primary plates, said primaryelement being adapted for longitudinal movement into maximumelectrostatic engagement with the rotor slots in the selected position.

12. A radio frequency selector comprising a primary element having aplurality of condenser plates arranged to engage the slots of a rotorelement, a rotor shaft, a rotor element secured to said shaft having aplurality of slots equal in number to the primary plates, an index platesecured to said rotor shaft, said index plate having a like number ofslots with the same angular spacing as the rotor slots, and a pawl toengage the slots of the index plates to maintain fixed selected relativeposition of the rotor slots with reference to the primary plates.

13. A radio frequency selector including primary plates, a slotted rotorelement including a rotor shaft, an indicating dial secured to saidshaft having graduations thereon which correspond in number to thenumber of slots in the rotor element, an index plate having alike numberof slots with the same angular spacing as the rotary element permanentlysecured to said rotary shaft, said dial having its graduations exactlyin alignment with the slots in the rotary element to indicate thecorrectrelative alignment of the slots in the index plate with the slotsin the rotary element and with the primary plates, and means forimparting longitudinal movement to said primary plates for capacitiveengagement of primary plates in the rotor slots.

14. A radio frequency selector including a longitudinal movable base, astator element mounted on said base, an operating lever with cooperatingmechanism to longitudinally move the base to a maximum from a zeroposition or to a zero position from a maximum position, and lockingmeans operable with the operating lever to permanently maintain eitherthe zero or maximum longitudinal position.

15. A radio frequency selector comprising a rotor having a plurality ofrotatably mounted condenser elements, each of said elements having aplurality of slots, a like number of primary elements having a pluralityof condenser plates equal in number with the rotor slots, alongitudinally movable base carrying said plates and movable intocapacitive relationship with said slots, means for rotatably moving theelements carrying said slots so that the slots may move into alignmentwith a selected number of primary plates, means for longitudinallymoving said elements into capacitive relationship in the selectedposition, a dial to indicate the number of plates selected, an indexplate and cooperating pawl to permanently locate said slots in theselected position, an operating lever to engage the elements while in anoperating position, and a locking device to permanently retain the twoelements either in the position of zero engagement or gagement in whichthe number of plates selected is in maximum electrostatic engagement.

WILLIAM S. SUTTON.

the position of maximum en-

